Bicyce.



Patented Sept. 25, I900. F. J. STAL as.

BICY

flleii'NOiv. 22, 1897) No. 658,742. 7 Patented Sept. 25, I900. F. J.STALLINGS. A

BIGY LE.

(Application filed 22, 1897.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet Z.

m: uonms PETERS so. PNOTO-LITNQ. wnsnmm'ou. n. c.

7 UNITED STA" r-Es PATENT omcE.

FRANCIS J. STALLINGS, or EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS, ASS-IGNOR or ONE-EIGHTH ToCAROLINE STALLINGS, OF sA PLACE.

. BICYCLE..."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,742, datedSeptember 25, 1900. Application filed November 22, 1897. Serial No.659,410. (No model.)

T l wh m t may concern: containing antifriction-balls 18. The'eccen- Beit known that I, FRANCIS J. STALLINGS, a trics are connected to thedriving-rods 10 citizen of the United States, residing at Effingthroughthe medium of stocks and circular ham, in the county of Effmgham andState of str'aps 16. The driving-rods 10 are prefer- 5 Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful ably hollow and secured in place bylock-nuts Improvements in Bicycles; and I do declare 17. Suitableroller-bearings 19 can be prothe following to be a full, clear, andexact devided for the various shafts 7 and 12 in order to scription ofthe invention, such as will enable reduce'fricti'on of the mechanism.The eccenothers skilled in the art to which it appertains tric-straps 16have internal screw-threads 16. to to make and use the same, referencebeinghad The numerals 23 designate duplicate secto the accompanyingdrawings, and to the figtions of the bearing-rings between which andures of reference marked thereon,which form the stocks 15 the balls 18run. These seca part of this specification. 'tions screw into theeccentric-strap from op- My invention relates to chainless bicyclepositesides of the latter and have their in- 15 gearing, and more particularlyto gearing emner adjacent faces grooved and constitute a bodyingcrank-driven eccentrics and drivingraceway for the balls, which contactwith them rods operatively connected to the bicycleat points 20 and 21and with the periphery of wheel. the stock 15 at the point 22. It willbe ob- My object is the provision of improved gearserved that the ballsbear on an annular bear- 2o ing of this type constructed and cooperatinging-flange 15 on the stock, which fits loosely in a novel manner,whereby the strain on the in the raceway. This construction preventsparts is more evenly distributed than has any lateral displacement ofthe eccentricheretofore been the case and the propulsion strap. Thesections of the ring 23 have cirof the bicycle rendered easier. cularlyarranged indentations or recesses 24, 25 Having the foregoing and otherobjects in andlocking-latches 25, secured to the strap 16, View, theinvention consists in certain im on opposite sides thereof, have theirfree ends proved features combined in a novel manner, disposed to dropinto any one of the notches, as will appear more fully hereinafter. andthus lock the ring-sections against turn- In the accompanying drawings,Figure lis a ing after they have been properly adjusted. 30 sideelevation of an ordinary bicycle equipped Having thus described theconstruction of with my improved gearing. Fig. 2 is a detail mymechanism, I will now explain its operaplan View of the invention,certain parts betion. ing shown in dotted lines and in section. Fig.When the pedal-shaft is driven forward by 3 is a detail elevation of'oneof the eccentrics. the pedal 26, it revolves the driving-gear 2, 8 5 3 5Fig. 4 is a detail elevation, partly in section, communicating motion tothe pinion 3, actuof a set of the bearing-rings; and Fig. 5 is a atingshaft 1, which revolves the larger gears detail view of one of theeccentric-stocks. 5 on said shaft,'thereby turning the pinion 6 To thepedal-shaft l is fixed a driving-gear on the eccentric-shaft 7 andrevolving the 2, located midway between the opposite ends eccentrics 8forward. The eccentrics 8 carry 40 of the shaft, and this gear mesheswith a with them the driving-rods 10, one moving pinion 3 on acounter-shaft 4. On this same forward while the other moves'backward incounter-shaft are located on either side of the alternate relation.These drivingrods repinion 3 two larger gears 5, which mesh with volvethe rear eccentrics l2 and actuate the pinions 6 on the shaft 7 above.To this shaft rear driving-wheel of the bicycle. 45 7 are fixedalternating eccentrics 8, which ac- I gain two advantages by theemployment tuate the rear wheel 9 through the medium of the gear-wheels:first, a proper multiplicaof driving-rods l0 and rear eccentrics 11,fixed tion of the rate of rotation of the crank-shaft to the shaft 12 ofthe rear wheel. The frame and pedals, and, secondly, an even distri- 13is forked at 14 to pass astride the gearing bution of strain and wear onthe parts, for 50 associated with the pedal-shaft. All of the ecit willbe observed that by reason of the centrics are provided with peripheralgrooves gear-wheels being located at the centers of required to propelthe bicycle is minimized and running made extremely easy.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a main frame of the machine, a pedal shaftjournaled in the hanger thereof, said pedal-shaft having a drive-gearsecured thereon at or near its center, of a counter-shaft having apinion thereon'which meshes with the gear on the pedalshaft, a shafthaving eccentrics on each end thereof, gearing for communicating motionfrom the counter-shaft to said eccentric-shaft, eccentric-strapssurrounding these eccentrics,balls interposed between the peripheries ofsaid eccentrics and the straps, a ring screwed into each eccentric-strapfor retaining the balls in place therein, adjustable means secured tothe straps and engaging the said rings for retaining them in position,the rear-wheel axle having eccentrics thereon, eccentric-straps, balls,rings screwed in the straps, for retaining the balls in position, meansfor locking said rings in the straps and pitinen extending from thestraps on the rearwheel axle to the straps on the eccentricshafts forcommunicating motion from the latter to the former, substantially as setforth.

In witness whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS J. STALLINGS. Witnesses:

A. J. WORMAN, CHARLES Boos.

